Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav's name plate covered, later removed at 'Vishwa Yuva Kaushal Divas'

Patna: Crisis deepened in Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance on Saturday with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav skipping an official function with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. The name plaque of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was first covered with a piece of cloth and soon removed from the dais. According to officials, Tejashwi Yadav's name plaque was earlier arranged along with that of Nitish Kumar on the table at an official function of the 'Vishwa Yuva Kaushal Divas' at Gayan Bhawan in Patna. But it was first covered with cloth and then hurriedly removed before the programme officially began. The development has strengthened speculation that the crisis between the Janata Dal-United of Nitish Kumar and the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Prasad has further deepened over allegations of corruption against the RJD chief and his family. Tejashwi Yadav's name was mentioned in the invitation for the function. Bihar has been in the grip of a political crisis over the demand for the resignation of Tejashwi Yadav after the CBI registered a case against him in a benami property case and also raided his premises last week. JD-U General Secretary Shayam Razak, considered close to the Chief Minister, on Saturday said his party's stand is very clear that it will not compromise on corruption. "JD-U will not take back its own stand on corruption. Lalu Prasad has become old," he said, a day after the RJD chief declared that his younger son Tejashwi Yadav will not resign and the Mahagatbandhan is intact. The CBI recently questioned Rabri Devi and Tejaswi. However, Lalu on Friday said that his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is facing corruption charges, will not resign as Bihar Deputy Chief Minister. "The Vidhan Mandal of our party has taken a decision that Tejashwi Yadav will not resign," Lalu told ANI. "An FIR is not sufficient reason for the resignation," he added. This assertion from the RJD chief thus brought an end to speculations that Tejaswi Yadav might step down from the post to save the ruling alliance. (With inputs from agencies)